What is a MOTHER ? Acronym / Titus 2 Moms

 My friend Cindy gave a devotional talk for our Titus 2 Moms group last week.  She does not have her own blog, so for a spot for the moms to read what she said, her notes are posted here from  May 22-27.

 M-O-T-H-E-R

T:   Training is one of your biggest responsibilities to your child and everyone around her. It begins in infancy, when the task is fairly uncomplicated and determined by what’s important to you and your husband. Achieving a schedule will give her security and a sense of order and give you rest and bring peace to your home.

Jesus GREW (process) in wisdom, stature, favor with God and Man. (Luke 2:52) In other words, He grew in wisdom, He grew physically, He grew spiritually, and He grew academically and socially.

We have a responsibility to train our children in all these areas:

• teach academically with a goal to teach toward wisdom
• attend to the physical training - especially if you have a competitive child
• teach them the Word, Who wrote it, and how it works in real life
• teach them manners and etiquette!

Training is a PROCESS and is commensurate with the child’s ability more so than her age -- but don’t underestimate his ability! If a mental or physical challenge is making it difficult for training in a particular area, work to discover how you can help your child reach the goal. My son needed to exercise self-control and to communicate respectfully and politely, but was late in learning how to talk. We taught him some simple sign language to reduce his frustration while he tried to obey, but didn’t have the skill of speech.

Training goes beyond outward compliance. Training must be aimed at the heart of the child. Contrary to popular belief, training done properly builds your relationship with your child.

He who spares his rod hates his son, 

but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.    (Proverbs 13:24)

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, 

but the rod of correction will drive it far from him. (Proverbs 22:15)

Chasten your son while there is hope .. .  (Proverbs 19:18)

The rod and reproof give wisdom, 

but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.  (Proverbs 29:15)

Training is a low-risk, high yield investment you make in your child’s future and yours:

A foolish son is the ruin of his father . . . (Proverbs 19:13)

A foolish son is a grief to his father, 

and bitterness to her who bore him. (Proverbs 17:25)

A wise son makes a glad father, 

but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.  (Proverbs 10:1)

Be more concerned with your child’s holiness than her happiness and you will be giving her a life full of joy. There is a place for mercy in training; however, to appreciate mercy, one must first understand justice.

T could also be for:   always tell the TRUTH - nothing but the simple truth!  Keep truth age appropriate! (i.e. Easter bunny, Santa Claus, tooth fairy, where babies come from...)